Marketing Through Your Profile Picture

In an earlier post, I yammered about Executive and Business Portraits, comparing different industries to different types of Portraits. Notwithstanding the need for an updated Profile Portrait, I would like to point out a few specifics on WHY you should update your Business Profile Portrait on a regular basis.

I can’t tell you how many times my phone rings and there’s a business professional on the other end sighing about how they NEED a picture for their online profile or business Website. It’s probably the sane sigh dental receptionists hear before taking an appointment. After a few minutes on the phone, I can change any businesspersons reluctance and actually get them looking forward to the photo shoot.

Obviously your current picture is not representing you to your standards today. Sure, maybe a few years (decades) ago it was perfect for your Spouses desk, but you’ve changed and updating your picture with whom you have become is as important as your accomplishments. Marketing yourself is just as significant as marketing your company. Potential customers need to see what the person looks like. It’s really not that bad, if you do it right.

Here are 10 signs you need an updated Business Profile Portrait.

1. If your current picture gets whistles from construction workers but glares by Human Resources, it’s time to update your business profile portrait.
2. If your clients email ends with “is that you?”, it’s time to update your business profile portrait.
3. If you constantly hear “love your dog”, it’s time to update your business profile portrait.
4. If your using a wedding picture with your significant other cut out, it’s time to update your business profile portrait.
5. If people you meet say “wow, you do have a nice smile”, it’s time to update your business profile portrait.
6. If you’re with a client and they ask how Cabo was, it’s time to update your business profile portrait.
7. If your temp says “cool, I see from your dark blurry picture your Goth too”, it’s time to update your business profile portrait.
8. If your DMV picture looks better than your current business profile picture, it’s time to update your business profile portrait.
9. If the shirt your wearing in your current business profile picture references Heineken or the numbers 4:20, it’s time to update your business profile portrait.
10. If your business profile picture is a blank space that reads “upload picture here”, it’s time to update your business profile portrait.

Now go off and get that Business Profile Portrait Updated and save the sighs for your Dentists Receptionist.

Keep Smiling

One of the modeling industries best kept secrets to a good headshot or portrait is to keep smiling. Even if the photographer says, “don’t smile” or “smile, but no teeth”, you still want to feel and express as if you’re smiling. It’s called Smiling From the Inside. Expressing a persona of happiness, good mood, friendly demeanor, free spirit will come through on the picture. Regardless of your present mood or state of mind, if the camera can see though your annoyance, be assured the viewer of the picture will. As Ansel Adams once said, “there are at least two people in every picture, the person who took the picture and the person looking at the picture”.

An easy way to keep that inner smile obvious thouh your photo shoot is to think of the last thing that brought you complacency. It could be as simple as that delicious sandwich you just had for lunch or that awesome trip to the Bahamas you just took. Regardless of what it is, make it the most recent occurrence to keep it as clear as possible. Once there, find things around your location that might remind you of that time, such as the photographer’s shirt or the shoes you’re wearing. Expel all negative or downer thoughts. Keep your mind clear and focused on smiling on the inside.

If you’re having trouble reaching the inner smile, ask to take a few minutes to gather your frame of mind. Any photographer worth his/her weight in gold will understand and try to help you with this process.

Don’t expect the photographer to be a comedian and make you smile. True, most photographers can come up with a few humorous situations that will make you smile, but it’s your picture and you really want to make your best impression. Coming prepared with a funny joke list or a few pictures can be a great smile booster as well.